Violence Experienced by Nursing Students During Clinical Practice and Academic and Emotional Consequences: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal
Nursing Reports
ISSN
2039-4403
Publisher
MDPI AG
Date Issued
2026
Author(s)
Novales-Huidobro, Samantha Ruth
Ángeles-Pacheco, Maria Lorena
González-Kawahara, Misato
Constantino-Segura, Natalia
García-Olea, Paula
Sámano, Reyna
Chico-Barba, Gabriela
Type
text::journal::journal article
Abstract
Background: Violence in healthcare settings affects nursing students during clinical training and may compromise their mental well-being, learning experiences, and professional development. Despite evidence from high-income countries, limited data exist on how contextual and organizational factors in Latin American settings shape these experiences. This study aimed to assess the frequency and types of violence experienced by nursing students during clinical practice and the academic and emotional consequences. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted among undergraduate and graduate nursing students in Mexico City who had completed at least one hospital-based clinical placement in the previous 12 months. Data were collected between January 2024 and September 2025 using a validated questionnaire assessing types of violence, perpetrators, academic and emotional consequences. Violence was defined as experiencing events “occasionally,” “sometimes,” or “frequently.” Descriptive statistics were calculated. Associations were examined using Pearson’s chi-square test, and logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and year of study. Results: Seventy-three students participated (86.3% female). Non-physical violence was the most frequent type (90.4%), followed by sexual harassment (49.3%), mainly perpetrated by nurses (62%) and physicians (46.5%). Considering leaving the profession (41.4%) and feelings of inadequacy (66.2%) were the most common academic and emotional consequences. Although some associations were observed in bivariate analyses, these were not significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Violence during clinical training is highly prevalent and may represent a significant threat to nursing students’ mental well-being and professional development. Strengthening institutional policies, reporting mechanisms, and supportive learning environments is essential to mitigate its impact and promote safer clinical training. © The authors © MDPI.
License
Acceso Abierto
How to cite
Novales-Huidobro, S. R., Ángeles-Pacheco, M. L., González-Kawahara, M., Constantino-Segura, N., García-Olea, P., Sámano, R., & Chico-Barba, G. (2026). Violence Experienced by Nursing Students During Clinical Practice and Academic and Emotional Consequences: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nursing Reports, 16(5), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep16050167